As is the case in most Call of Duty titles, Assault Rifles are incredibly popular in Warzone 2. With options that can dominate at any range, be it on Ashika Island or in Al Mazrah, an assault rifle will almost always be an imperative part of your loadout. Here’s every Warzone 2 AR ranked from worst to best.
Assault rifles, or ARs, are one of the most versatile weapons in all of Warzone 2 since, depending on attachments, they can be used for a variety of ranges or playstyles. The game’s meta has been shaken up somewhat throughout Season 2, especially in the mid-season Reloaded update, making some guns better or worse than before.
However, as always, certain assault rifles stand out from the crowd in their category, so it’s important to know which guns are top-tier in the current meta.
Best Warzone 2 assault rifles
11. M16
Best M16 Warzone 2.0 Loadout
- Muzzle: Harbinger D20
- Barrel: 14″ Carbine Shroud
- Optic: Schlager 3.4X
- Underbarrel: VX Pineapple
- Magazine: 45-Round Mag
Despite receiving buffs in the Season One update, the M16 remains a step below other class offerings. Its mediocre damage and complicated recoil pattern make the weapon essentially unusable, especially compared to some of the incredibly powerful ARs in the battle royale.
10. Kastov 545
Best Kastov 545 Warzone 2.0 loadout
- Barrel: IG-K30 406MM
- Muzzle: Echoless-80
- Underbarrel: VX Pineapple
- Optic: Cronen Mini Pro
- Magazine: 45-Round Mag
Players can build a pretty good Kastov 545 build for short to medium-range engagements, but the weapon’s relatively slow fire rate and time-to-kill speed prevent it from being a top-tier AR option.
9. STB-556
Best STB 556 Warzone 2.0 loadout
- Barrel: 24.4″ Bruen S-620
- Muzzle: SAKIN TREAD-40
- Magazine: 42 Round Mag
- Rear Grip: STIP-40 Grip
- Underbarrel: VX Pineapple
The STB doesn’t flourish quite as much in Warzone 2 as it does in MW2. Its high fire rate and medium-range prowess are balanced out by moderate recoil and a slightly insufficient magazine. A simple recoil buff would go a long way to making it among the best ARs there are.
8. Lachmann-556
Best Lachmann 556 Warzone 2.0 loadout
- Muzzle: Harbinger D20
- Barrel: 15.9″ Lachmann Rapp Barrel
- Underbarrel: FTAC Ripper 56
- Optic: VLK 4.0 Optic
- Magazine: 40-Round Mag
The Lachmann 556 is an all-round AR that, unfortunately, doesn’t really excel in any particular category. It’s got a middling TTK, middling recoil, and middling handling. Because of that, it’s probably best to look elsewhere.
7. M4
Best M4 Warzone 2.0 loadout
- Muzzle: Echoless-80
- Barrel: Hightower 20″ Barrel
- Optic: Cronen Mini Pro
- Underbarrel: FSS Sharkfin 90
- Magazine: 60-Round Mag
You can’t go wrong with the classic M4. The weapon is well-balanced and extremely easy to use. Modern Warfare 2’s iteration doesn’t blow anyone away with its stats, but its fast fire rate, ADS speed, and consistent damage make it reliable for any player.
6. Chimera
Best Chimera Warzone 2.0 loadout
- Barrel: 6.5″ EXF Vorpal
- Muzzle: Polarfire-S
- Laser: VLK LZR 7MW
- Underbarrel: FSS Sharkfin 90
- Magazine: 45-Round Mag
The Chimera was only added to the WZ2 arsenal with the Season 1 Reloaded update but it’s already made a splash in the meta.
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Unlike its counterparts, the Chimera performs best up close and is more of an SMG than a long-range laser beam. Despite this, its solid TTK, in-built silencer, and strong mobility make it a lethal pick, and the build above maximizes its potential in WZ2.
5. Kastov 762
Best Kastov 762 Warzone 2.0 loadout
- Barrel: KAS-10 584MM Barrel
- Muzzle: ZLR Talon 5
- Optic: Aim-OP V4
- Underbarrel: FTAC Ripper 56
- Magazine: 40-Round Mag
The Kastov 762 was undoubtedly a top-three AR in Season One, but it was one of the few ARs to be weakened. Its damage reduction and range nerfs mean it falls out of the medal spots, but it remains a very strong AR at medium ranges. It just can’t hang with LMGs at longer ranges like it used to.
4. Kastov-74u
Best Kastov-74u Warzone 2.0 loadout
- Muzzle: Echoless-80
- Barrel: Shorttac 330MM
- Stock: FT Tac-Elite Stock
- Underbarrel: FSS Sharkfin 90
- Magazine: 45-Round Mag
The Kastov-74u remains an ideal sniper support and thrives as a hybrid SMG for close-quarter skirmishes. Paired alongside a meta sniper, this gun can completely take over a match and with the loadout above, it has plenty of firepower and keeps you competitive in longer-range engagements too.
3. M13B
Best M13B Warzone 2.0 loadout
- Barrel: 14″ Bruen Echelon
- Muzzle: Harbinger D20
- Optic: Cronen Mini Pro
- Magazine: 60-Round Mag
- Stock: Bruen R90 Factory
The M13B underwhelmed in Season One but was one of very few weapons to receive a significant buff in Season Two. It saw its medium-range damage increased, as well as its damage to the upper torso. In short, some well-placed shots to enemies’ chests will drop them rapidly.
2. TAQ-56
Best TAQ-56 Warzone 2.0 loadout
- Muzzle: Echoless-80
- Barrel: 14.5″ Tundra Pro Barrel
- Optic: Aim-OP V4
- Underbarrel: FSS Sharkfin 90
- Magazine: 60-Round Mag
Numbers and stats don’t do justice to how amazing the TAQ-56 feels in-game. The AR’s damage, time to kill, and damage per second all appear average on paper, but it just feels so satisfying to use in-game.
It remains one of the best ARs in Warzone 2 because it dominates any long-range engagement but is versatile enough to use in just about any scenario.
1. ISO Hemlock
Best ISO Hemlock Warzone 2.0 Loadout
- Muzzle: SAKIN Tread-40
- Barrel: LR-30/56
- Underbarrel: Edge-47 Grip
- Magazine: 45-Round Mag
- Optic: Aim OP-V4
The ISO Hemlock dropped with Season Two, and almost instantly became a dominant meta weapon. After nerfs to the likes of the RPK LMG, the ISO Hemlock now firmly ranks as one of the best, if not the best gun, in the game, with a pick rate far higher than the other ARs.
That rounds off the best ARs in Warzone 2.0 right now. Be sure to check back in the future because as the meta shifts, so will this list.